Build-a-Bear! We must be with Nana!!

Our annual summer trip to the farm is always a hit with the girls. We get to see cousins, Nana & Papa, "silly Uncle Cordy" and go to Build-a-Bear!!

We stayed a few days in Park City where the outlet clerks got to know us on a first name basis. In an effort to ware out the kids we took them to Paint me Mine, a paint your own pottery studio. They had a huge selection that brought us back the next day begging for more!

(A sad attempt at cousin pictures... but we tried!)

Lauren zooming down down Nana & Papa's driveway...can you just imagine how fun this would be in a sled at Christmas time?!

by the end of our stay bravery won out trepidation and Lauren was coasting half way down the driveway...

...on the pink panther.

Taking over the Oval Office at Logan's American West Heritage Center. Everyone's personality shines through when in play... see here how Lauren is in charge and Savannah is the court jester?! True story.

Lilly, the belle of the ball.

oh, Paisley! Are you in trouble again?

And Meggy our little chalk dispenser...or chalk eater?

California Adventure!!

Lauren driving already...time does fly.

We had a great time at Disneyland with Nick's side of the family (they're an adventure all by themselves!) L & S loved meeting the characters and their favorite ride was Nemo's Underwater Adventure in a submarine.


AHrrr, look at those scary pirates!

Grandma and Papas took the grandgirls to Chuck-E-Cheese. Savannah was really on a roll with the camera...

...little punk!!

Our favorite ride by far - the Papas!!

Nick and I spent a few days in Vegas while the girls played with family. I was completely overwhelmed by the serenity of it all. Nick splurged and got tickets to Cirque du Soleil --worth EVERY penny! But the highlight was having 72 hours of Nick all to myself!

Highlights from our recent history...

Making slime with Brady & Drew

Cheesecake Factory with Papa and Kim

Visiting the "Papa bear" upstairs.

President's Day cupcakes

S's first day of Preschool with Ms. Ploy.

March in CA

Rhonda organized a great family photo shoot. These are my favorites of the girls.

I had to step out of the way so that Nick could coerce a smile out of S. She just fussed at me :(
Lauren was the perfect model the entire shoot. She was all smiles and the camera loves her!!

January in Houston

Singing to cousin Thomas...

In January we went to Houston to see Uncle Clint off. He's in the Marine Corps and is leaving for Afghanistan. We love him and will miss him so much!

The whole family with MawMaw.

Dixie (S's favorite dog), Julie, Thomas, Grandpa Burks,
L & S

S on Uncle Clint's drums. I can see a future in this...

Lauren was pumping out a good rhythm...

Family Zoo at the Houston Zoo.

Grinch in ICE

This is our 2nd year visiting the Grinch in ICE at Opryland Resort. As they take your tickets, we each get a heavy "freezer" coat to add to our ensemble. Then they stand you in front of a green screen to take a group picture... the coat adds 5 lbs and the camera 10...

Hypothermia is slowly achieved but thoroughly effective in this winter wonderland of ice. The runny noses and blurred vision only enhance the vibrant colors and textures of the sculptures. EVERYTHING is made of ice, seriously. Even the Grinch's eyelashes.
The spirit of Christmas is never so well understood. Little ones come to appreciate their most basic blessings and imagine how it may have felt to be born out side and only have swaddling clothes to keep you warm.

...but see girls, bunk beds aren't so bad.

The biting temp keeps the walk through tour at a brisk pace. Our tickets were free from Vandy (see friends, come here!) so we didn't have to get our arm and legs worth. Anyhow it only cost us a few fingers and toes, but we'll have the memories forever.

Okay. Not so photogenic.

but there is a point...

Just after Savannah was born I spent several weeks with my parents in Idaho while Nick did a 6 week rotation away from home. While shopping with my mom I found these amazing Ecco shoes. I even remember the price. Mom bought them for me saying you couldn't put a price on good shoes. ...well of course not.

These shoes have really taken me places. Today they bring gratitude to my heart for the many people I've met and the blessing of a loving and attentive family. Especially my mother who always knows the solution to every problem (even if just in theory).

Mom, I still think about you every time I put on these shoes. Really. You continue to teach me, inspiring me to better myself and to look for the beauty in everything. As a girl, when I clicked across the floor of our Teakwood home in your church shoes, I couldn't have imagined a better fairy tale childhood than what you made for me. Thank you for the blessing of perspective and down right overly creative imagination. I love you.